For decades, American soccer fans have dreamed of a well-stocked men's national team, from which the coach could pick from dozens of player capable of
performing at the international level.

That goal has yet to be attained in the USA, and there several levels of international play that escalate to the World Cup summit.

Brazil, of course, teems with talented players. Argentina, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, even England have large casts of supporting players to bolster the stars. Honed by years of
experience in tough leagues, those players prompt national-team coaches to ask themselves, “Who best fits my system?’ rather than, “Is this the best we can do?”

The USA isn’t close to joining those nations in the top tier. But signs are clear that conditions for U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann are trending in the right direction. When he
names his World Cup roster next year, his hard choices will be encountered trimming it down to 23, not padding it with marginal candidates because there’s nobody else.

At the
Concacaf/Gold Cup level at least, banging out nine straight wins in competitive matches -- three Hexagonal qualifiers, six Gold Cup games -- proves there are more viable candidates than ever before.
The Gold Cup ‘B’ squad did have the ultimate A-lister, Landon Donovan, to lead the way, and stomping Belize, Cuba and El Salvador by combined scores of 15-3 isn’t
going to rattle any of the teams the U.S. might face in a World Cup.

But along with those cakewalks the Americans grinded out 1-0 defeats of Costa Rica (in the Group C finale) and Panama
(in the final), and also toppled Honduras, 3-1, in the semifinal. Klinsmann picked very few holdovers from the squad that downed Jamaica (2-1), Panama (2-0), and Honduras (1-0) to take over first
place in the Hexagonal standings, yet the Gold Cup Gang powered forward to win seven straight matches, starting with a 6-0 warmup rout of Guatemala shortly after it was assembled.

Nearly
a dozen players raised their stock and Klinsmann’s management of the squads as well as the games themselves polished his profile as well. Last year’s reclamation project, Eddie
Johnson, came off the bench to score with his first touch against Honduras; Brek Shea’s goals broke open 0-0 games.

Weak competition can be rightly cited
in a few cases, yet the claim can also be made a strong, confident U.S. team outclassed and outworked its opponents much of the time. It’s also clear that Gold Cup participants will push at
least a few Hexagonal regulars for playing time.

This expansion of the player pool doesn’t mean every player to wear the U.S. jersey since Klinsmann took over nearly two years ago
can step right into a World Cup group game against Spain. But it does mean there are numerous options to Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley in central midfield, for
example, though a torn ACL has again derailed the career of Stuart Holden. Kyle Beckerman turned in a consistent run of performances much like his regular outings for
Real Salt Lake, and the Norway-based Mix Diskerud confirmed that the promise he’d shown previously is real.

How much credit can Klinsmann take for this upsurge in
talent? In one sense, not much. Players hone their craft with their club teams, and it’s up to the national team coach to sort through the options and select those who he believes can enhance
each other’s abilities while melding into a cohesive, consistent unit.

Yet Klinsmann has transformed the collective mentality, from a perceived old-boy network to a brand new
frontier. Players are called for national team camps to test their readiness, not gauge their potential or reward their past performances. Nor does a bad outing dump one to the far side of the bench,
as Shea and Chris Wondolowski have learned.

Shea’s play during the Gold Cup included two quick goals off the bench that highlighted strong showings as well as a
couple of clunkers. Wondolowski’s recall after being blanked in his first nine U.S. games raised some eyebrows; he scored six goals in three straight matches before cooling off in the Gold Cup
knockout rounds.

When informed in January, 2012, he was the only player called in by Klinsmann for each of the coach’s first nine games in charge, Shea said, “I didn’t
know that had happened. It’s actually kind of cool. Obviously that gives me confidence that chose me and keeps playing me. A big part of soccer is confidence and he definitely has encouraged me
to play a very attacking style. He’s been very helpful to me; he’s been very helpful to everyone, actually.”

Since then, Shea struggled through a rough 2012 MLS season,
transferred from FC Dallas to Stoke City, spent long, hard months rehabbing a nagging foot injury, and played his way to at least the fringe of contention for a national team spot. He’s been
convinced since early in Klinsmann’s tenure that players are not extended token callups, as a few players believed to be the case in past regimes.

“Jurgen has given everyone a
chance, calling in all these guys to all these camps,” says Shea. “He gives guys the chance they need.”

He’s also not wedded to the past for whatever reason. The
most extreme example is Donovan, excluded by Klinsmann from the Hexagonal games and given the opportunity to impress in the Gold Cup. By scything through opponents to ring up five goals, seven
assists, and dozens of menacing moments, he did just that. Yet Klinsmann has refused to confirm he’ll be called for the next round of World Cup qualifiers in September, though a “high
probability” of his inclusion was mentioned.

“However it happened, Landon was up there on a pedestal, the symbol of MLS as well as the national team,” says former
international Eric Wynalda, whose blunt criticisms of MLS, U.S. Soccer, and Donovan are well-documented. “Well, Jurgen showed all the players he doesn’t care about what
you’ve done in the past, it’s what you can do in the next game. Now Landon’s off the pedestal and on the podium with everybody else.”

Alejandro
Bedoya replaced Joe Corona at right mid in the semifinal against Honduras and assisted on both of Donovan’s goals. Rather than drop Bedoya and re-install Corona for the
final against Panama, Klinsmann played them both; Bedoya kept his spot on the right, Corona moved to the left. Bedoya’s inswinging low cross from the right flank was banged into the net at the
goal line by Shea, fresh off the bench, for the only goal.

For the first time since 2007, the Americans were Concacaf champions. Among the celebrants was Galaxy defender Omar
Gonzalez, who was recalled from the Galaxy in time for the semifinal but played only the last few minutes of the final. Clarence Goodson’s solid play had earned and
kept a place in the first XI.

“I would have argued that up ‘til now, 80 percent of our success has been accidental,” says Wynalda. “If you look at this team and
the group that has been assembled, when you get into that environment, you believe you have a realistic chance of making the team. No politics, no ‘The coach is going with that guy because
he’s been there before.’ Klinsmann has made it clear that everybody here has a chance.”

GOLD CUP BAROMETERWhich players
strengthened claims for a spot on the 2014 World Cup squad by their play in the Gold Cup?

LOL
"Perceived" Old Boys Network???
Klinsmann is so hated by the Old Boys still that many of their Heads Exploded on Sunday afternoon. The coaches in the old regime(s) only gave minutes to trialist players to prove they didn't belong. Klinsmann's biggest victory so far is fending off those JACKALS and allowing the talent on the field to express itself without fear. Many of these players are former castoffs and scapegoats for the failures of US Soccer office and staff. Klinsmann has been an honest broker for these professionals, and is giving them REAL opportunities to make a name for themselves.
I've always contended that America's Got Talent, but the PTB just refused to look for it, or allow it to put on the Stars and Stripes. Klinsmann has found a way. Good For Him!

Donovan not on the "Good bets" list?? Gimme a break. He's the best of his generation by a country mile, and Klinsmann is just being coy. I'd lay good money on Diskerud and Bedoya being on the Brazil squad as well. And were it me, I'd take Stuart Holden on one leg just for his smile and his attitude.

Eddie Johnson a "good bet for Brazil?" God help us. Like "Red-Card-waiting-to-happen" Jones, he is every bit as much a liability as an asset. Now and then he does something worthwhile, but more often is betrayed by his lack of touch, sense and temperament. And Besler over Goodson> Come on.

P.S. For Shea to make the team he needs to become far less erratic (grow up?), and Gooch? 5 will get you 20 if, with three or four others who are almost as strong, better on the ball and more agile, he makes the eventual cut.

I am in agreement with most of this, but Donovan is definitely in. I rate Besler higher than Goodson, but Goodson is definitely going to Brasil. Gooch is out! His time has come and gone. We still haven't seen Bocanegra with this new group. Klinsman has managed Donovan well, maybe Bocanegra will respond if he gets the chance. I also have to believe the Beckerman will be in Brasil. I agree he moved up the charts, but he's got to be right there. Eddie Johnson is definitely in. James Madison, He is much more an asset than Jones is. He's the third striker behind Altidore and Dempsey. Who else should be in front of E. Johnson? Not Wando? Herc? Don't think so. We will see.I'm just glad that we in the US get to have this discussion. We have a decent player pool now!!!

"Up the Charts" for Donovan? What does he need to do? There is no better player in US soccer. He has the skills, imagination, speed, determination, and leadership. Additionally, admittedly, I have been a Kyle Beckerman fan, but I see him as a much better fit than Jermaine Jones?

The US does have the pool of players now. What an exciting timie!!! We have an A team, a B+ team, and now even an B team. There are now at least 40-50 players whose names can be rattled off with little thought who are of National Team quality.

Allan, you're absolutely right. If Donovan is not a lock for Brazil at this point, no one is. He's been the best US player for a decade, takes time off so there's justifiable concern about his ability to come back, and then he's the best player at the Gold Cup. And Ridge lists 4 players from the Gold Cup ahead of him?? Methinks thou (Ridge) is playing with us...

Personally I was a Klinsmannista before the '09 Confederations Cup, and am so glad to see the right front wheel has fallen off the "Dump Klinsmann" bandwagon. But he's not entirely the Chosen One described in this article. If he were, he'd have given Freddy Adu more of a chance to rehabilitate himself.

How exciting to have healthy arguments about so many players now. Donovan is the best but you got to put Dempsey and Bradley right up there with him. Lots of choices for us to now criticize Klinsman or applaud him. I am just excited for the program and its new growth.

Boy, how the song has changed since March!! Thank God we played the SnowBowl, that Bradley spoke out against the murmerings (remember the article?), and with the result against CR then mexico, all of that BS wasn't allowed to take hold. If it had, we may have never arrived at the debate we are having here.

I don't see how Onyewu is holding steady. I see Besler, Goodson, Gonzalez, Cameron, and Orozco all in front of him and Bocanegra. I me voted by his group of central defenders. They just need more experience against top flight competition.

Look I know this Team USA win streak was not against the top 11 teams in the world, but what I have seen is a USA Team that is not just boom ball. They showed game and not just heart and strength. I believe Klinsmann brings energy and ehtusiasm to the pitch and it is contagious .... as for Donovan he put on a clinic! As someone else said "if he is not on the Brazil list no one is ...." USA, USA, USA!!!